"Runs on my Run?" ... if you are a runner, it needs no explanation. You have all been there at some point. If you are new to running, just wait - you too will be waddling your way home or perfecting your "feel sorry for me face" to beg your way into a bathroom soon enough.
It always seems to happen on a run where everything else is clicking - legs are feeling good, breathing is easy, mood is happy and you may even be singing some Justin Timberlake (or maybe that's just me)! Out of nowhere you feel a little rumbling in your belly. At first you think, "I can hold it" or "I can make it back home" and you keep running. Then there is the moment you realize you can't hold it anymore...it often happens quickly, bringing you to an abrupt stop mid-stride. You then think "if I walk for a minute, I can start running again" ... you might be able to squeak out another few minutes, but soon enough you are paralyzed again and you have to squat or sit down to let the contractions pass. There are no bathrooms in sight and you start panicking. (And you thought you were sweating a lot while you were running!)
This is where your survival instincts kick into gear...what can I do to avoid an "Uta"? (if you are a runner and/or a Bostonian, you know this reference). Most of the time you can waddle to the closest gas station or restaurant bathroom. If you are out on a trail somewhere, you will probably find a wide tree and hope there isn't any poison ivy around. The scenario we all fear is being on a busy bike path or city street when you can't find a bathroom or time has just run out. You start to realize what Uta experienced, but the difference is she had $100,000, fame and glory on the line. You have nothing more than a casual training run and your dignity.
Fear of public humiliation is powerful and it can often override your body's innate needs for long enough for you to get to safety - most of the time. When your body fails you and you are stuck hovering behind a bush just off the bike path or between two parked cars, just keep in mind that you are not alone. Well, hopefully you are physically alone - no one wants to witness that. But, all other runners are there with you in spirit.
For those of us with "crappy" GI systems, this scenario is all too familiar. We make sure to map our runs around all the potential bathroom pit-stops, always have Imodium in our medicine cabinet, prefer to run alone on certain days, and may even carry a stash of TP with us on our runs (again, maybe that is just me!). For those of you with stomachs of steel, good for you. For the running newbies, don't you worry, if you keep running you will be able to relate to this blog soon enough - Good Luck!
Please feel free to share your stories...
P.S. This blog is not all about going #2, I plan to explore a wide variety of topics, but I have a feeling this isn't the last time I will visit this one!
Alrighty!
ReplyDeleteYou want comments...you asked for it, so here you go.
But first I have to say, of all people, I did not expect you to start this. This is right up my alley. This is something I would do, not you. You are Miss Professional...or Mrs now...but I guess even professionals get the runs too. So here is my most recent runs on my run story:
"KNOW YOUR TRAIL"
Nov 5, 2011 Stone Cat 50. It was a beautiful day. The course was alot fun. The food and support was awesome. They had pancakes, hash browns, bacon, sausage, tomato soup, chicken noodle soup, grilled cheese, and even pumpkin pie. Yeah pumpkin pie! Ya know what I am getting at don't ya.
So my brother, Danny, and sister in law, Melissa, joined me for the last 12.5 miles. And it was time...ya know...poop time.
Melissa has run a 50 before, went to Umass and has three great boys. She can handle poop. But this one I know had some power to it...yeah "lets make some noise" power.
So I announced it was time for a private moment and slid over to a nice leaning tree. Poor tree. Squatting was not an option. They laughed and kept going and the fireworks started.
"Oh no! They are coming back right towards me." The trail took an immediate s-turn. They ran right back at me. They practically stepped on me. We all had a good laugh. Runners understand.
Andy
Hi Christine,
ReplyDeleteGreat post! I was excited to find you as I am exploring a similar topic on my own blog. I felt compelled to comment because I was just so excited to see someone else out there encountering similar issues. Happy running!